← Back to feed
Sharon Hodgson
LAB✓ Current MP
🏛️ Washington and Gateshead South
📅 2005–2026
915 speeches on Hansard record
✅ Votes attended: 83.15% (#76 of 643 MPs)
🟢 Rebelled against party: 0.09%
📝 Topics: Directors, Pay, Special Educational Needs
🤝 Member of 56 All-Party Parliamentary Groups
Written Answers
← Back to speeches
Department of Health and Social Care
Decisions about the funding and provision of health services are the responsibility of local integrated care boards. Further details and allocations will be set out in due course. The National Cancer Plan, published 4 February 2026, has set out actions aimed at supporting people with secondary…
View full answer ↗
Coverage of bowel cancer screening has been increasing in recent years. In 2019, 60.5% of people took the offer up. Now, it is 71.8%.To further increase coverage across England, including Yeovil, NHS England is doing the following:delivering new approaches to communicating with people about…
View full answer ↗
The Government is aware that post-acute infection conditions, such as Long Covid, can have a devastating effect on those who suffer from them. We are committed to taking a comprehensive and compassionate approach to supporting individuals with post-acute infection conditions such as Long Covid,…
View full answer ↗
The NHS Breast Screening Programme takes equality of access and opportunity for breast screening seriously. There is guidance in place to support breast screening services to address specific needs that people may have in order to attend their breast screening. This guidance is available at the…
View full answer ↗
Food safety legislation, and the Food Law Code of Practice (England) (the Code) places a statutory duty on competent authorities to undertake official food controls that verify whether food businesses, including small and microbusinesses, comply with relevant food law requirements.Food safety…
View full answer ↗
In November 2024, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provided advice on eligibility for the shingles vaccination programme for adults aged 80 years old and over. The Government continues to carefully consider the JCVI’s advice.We are taking key steps to ensure the…
View full answer ↗
On 27 January, the Government published the new nutrient profiling model (NPM). This included associated NPM technical guidance to support businesses to understand the new NPM and apply it to their products and worked examples on how to calculate free sugars and NPM scores in a range of…
View full answer ↗
Craniocervical instability (CCI) is a complex presentation that can arise in the context of a range of underlying conditions. At present, there is no agreed national diagnostic definition or evidence base to support a distinct National Health Service pathway. This makes the development of a single…
View full answer ↗
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is an expert scientific advisory committee that advises the Government on the eligibility for vaccination and immunisation programmes. The JCVI has been consulted on the immediate vaccine response to the outbreak and clinical effectiveness…
View full answer ↗
The commissioning of services for Tourette’s syndrome is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs), which have a legal duty to plan comprehensive health services for their populations, including for conditions like Tourette’s. While Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has not…
View full answer ↗
Lords Amendment 22 allows a relevant enforcement authority in England to retain all proceeds from the £2,500 fixed penalty notices for licensing offences in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The bill provides that the proceeds must be used for the enforcement of tobacco and vape legislation,…
View full answer ↗
NHS England is currently building and rolling out new services for breast screening. The future breast screening service is expected to improve the consistency and completeness of demographic and equality data capture, which should support more robust reporting over time.
View full answer ↗
The Government is committed to expanding access to diagnostic imaging, including computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA), through investment in new and expanded community diagnostic centres and wider imaging capacity.Improved access to CTCA supports earlier and more accurate diagnosis of…
View full answer ↗
Fracture Liaison Services are commissioned by integrated care boards, which are well-placed to make decisions according to local need.Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030.Officials continue to work closely with NHS…
View full answer ↗
The Manchester Arena Inquiry recommended that the Government make changes to the law to enable the Care Quality Commission to regulate event healthcare at sporting venues and gymnasiums, and under temporary arrangements, at sporting and cultural events to ensure public safety.The Government has…
View full answer ↗
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 31 March 2026 to Question 120609.
View full answer ↗
Through the National Disease Registration Service’s Get Data Out programme, we will expand the data available to the public and researchers by publishing increased information on incidence, routes to diagnosis, treatments, and survival. We will use the Get Data Out programme to make data on…
View full answer ↗
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guideline on cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and reduction, including lipid modification provides evidence-based guidance for healthcare professionals on lipid measurement. Healthcare professionals are expected to take…
View full answer ↗
To accelerate progress on the Government’s ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% in the next ten years, we will publish a new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework (CVD MSF) this spring. This will support consistent, high quality, and equitable…
View full answer ↗
Fracture Liaison Services are commissioned by integrated care boards, which are well-placed to make decisions according to local need.Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030.Officials continue to work closely with NHS…
View full answer ↗
The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, and we acknowledge unmet need remains, with just 5% of rare diseases having an approved and effective treatment. The UK Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities collaboratively developed with the rare…
View full answer ↗
NHS England commissions the specialised elements of motor neurone disease (MND) care that patients may receive from 27 specialised neurology centres across England. Within these specialised centres, neurological multidisciplinary teams ensure patients can access a range of health…
View full answer ↗
NHS England’s national Stroke Programme has undertaken work to understand the value and impact of six‑month post‑stroke reviews, particularly through the development of the Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS) model and the Stroke Quality Improvement in Rehabilitation…
View full answer ↗
The Government recognises that migraine is a serious and often debilitating neurological condition, with a wide range of symptoms that go far beyond a headache. Migraine attacks can be a whole-body experience that can make it difficult to function normally.The Royal College of General Practitioners…
View full answer ↗
The Government recognises that migraine is a serious and often debilitating neurological condition, with a wide range of symptoms that go far beyond a headache. Migraine attacks can be a whole-body experience that can make it difficult to function normally.The Royal College of General Practitioners…
View full answer ↗
The Government is guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC makes its recommendations based on internationally recognised criteria and a rigorous evidence review and consultation process. Where the committee is confident that offering…
View full answer ↗
Securing appropriate placements and clinical support for patients sits with the relevant integrated care boards (ICBs), which commission and fund the individual packages of care. NHS England’s regional specialised commissioning teams work closely with ICBs to provide clinical oversight and…
View full answer ↗
There are many foods that people might be allergic to, but the current list of 14 allergens, defined in legislation, are those established as the most common allergenic ingredients or processing aids of public health concern across Europe. They must be clearly identified on prepacked foods and…
View full answer ↗
While the Department does not ring-fence integrated care board (ICB) funding exclusively for prostate cancer public awareness campaigns, community-level engagement programmes aimed at increasing awareness and early detection are supported via broader communication programmes, working in partnership…
View full answer ↗
The Government is committed to ensuring that anyone with a drug or alcohol problem can access the help and support they need, and we recognise the need for evidence-based, high-quality treatment.Local authorities are responsible for assessing local need for alcohol and drug prevention and treatment…
View full answer ↗
For providers of treatment of disease, disorder, or injury (TDDI), regulatory obligations do not vary by event type or the number of attendees. Restricting Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulation to larger events would risk unregulated providers operating at events where attendance is higher than…
View full answer ↗
Early diagnosis is a key focus of the National Cancer Plan. It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood cancers, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes.To tackle the late diagnoses of blood…
View full answer ↗
We recognise the substantial economic and National Health Service burden of migraine, alongside the personal impacts. We know that there are an estimated 16,500 emergency admissions per year for migraine that could be avoided, costing the NHS £11.5 million.At the national level, there are a…
View full answer ↗
To tackle unwarranted variation and support consistent, high-quality care across the cardiovascular disease pathway, and to support the Government’s ambition to reduce premature deaths from heart disease and stroke by 25% within a decade, the Government will publish a new cardiovascular…
View full answer ↗
The de minimis assessment for the regulation amendment was published alongside the draft statutory instrument and explanatory memorandum, and is available at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2026/9780348279955/resourcesHouse debates on the statutory instrument are expected to…
View full answer ↗
The Department, in consultation with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), has agreed that there will be a phased approach to implementing the updated regulations. This is so:providers have sufficient time to prepare to submit their CQC registration applications and ensure compliance with the…
View full answer ↗
Sports and cultural events can cover a variety of activities, sizes, and attendee numbers, so there is no one specific definition within the Care Quality Commission’s regulation. However, where treatment of disease, disorder, or injury (TDDI) care is deemed necessary, the amendment will mean…
View full answer ↗
The NHS Health Check, a core component of England’s cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention programme, has been commissioned by local authorities in England since 2013, and engaged over 1.4 million people last year. Local authorities are responsible for commissioning the NHS Health Check,…
View full answer ↗
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular discussions with officials, external experts, and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence, and resilience.The Home Defence Programme was established in August 2024 to build…
View full answer ↗
The Government is committed to supporting those with achalasia. Achalasia can affect both adults and children. The paediatric aspect is commissioned through specialised commissioning but if it is missed in childhood, any adults who present with it are usually managed within locally commissioned,…
View full answer ↗
We are committed to reducing premature deaths from heart disease and stroke and we recognise that improving the detection and treatment of heart valve disease is an important step to achieving this ambition. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will publish a new cardiovascular disease Modern…
View full answer ↗
To support people with musculoskeletal (MSK) and back pain conditions, we are working to deliver the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) MSK Community Delivery Programme. GIRFT teams are working with health system leaders to further reduce MSK community waiting times, which are the highest of all…
View full answer ↗
The Government’s position is that local communities are best placed to make decisions about procuring, locating, and maintaining automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Over 110,000 defibrillators are registered in the United Kingdom on The Circuit, the independent AED database. Over 30,000…
View full answer ↗
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that infant formula prices have risen significantly in recent years, and stakeholder evidence highlighted risks such as unsafe feeding practices and food insecurity among families struggling to afford formula. It is vital that families who cannot or…
View full answer ↗
The Licensing Act 2003, which is overseen by the Home Office, requires licensing authorities to promote objectives relating to the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the protection of children from harm, and the prevention of public nuisance, which together provide important…
View full answer ↗
As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis to ease the strain on our National Health Service and create the healthiest generation of children ever.Restrictions on the promotion by location of…
View full answer ↗
The Government recommends that adults consume 30 grams of fibre every day and that this should come from a variety of food sources. This is reflected in the United Kingdom’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide, which is a visual representation of Government advice on a healthy, balanced…
View full answer ↗
Liver disease is a broad term for several conditions affecting the liver and pancreas and the Government is taking decisive action to tackle ill health and shift the focus on diseases such as liver disease from treatment to prevention.The most prevalent cause of liver-related ill health and death…
View full answer ↗
The National Cancer Plan, published on the 4 February 2026, sets out several commitments and ambitions on children and young people’s cancer, to be delivered within the next ten years.This includes commitments to improve the experience of staying in hospital for young cancer patients. The…
View full answer ↗
We are committed to protecting children from the risks of nicotine addiction. Evidence suggests that awareness and use of nicotine pouches is growing amongst young people.There are currently no advertising restrictions on nicotine pouches. To address this, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will stop the…
View full answer ↗
The Healthy Start Scheme helps to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies, and young children under four years old from very low-income households. In April 2026, the value of the weekly payments will increase by 10%. Pregnant women and children aged over one and under four years old…
View full answer ↗
On World AIDS Day, 1 December 2025, the Department published the new HIV Action Plan, which was developed in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England. The plan is backed by over £170 million in funding and sets out five core priorities needed to reach our ambition to…
View full answer ↗
The Positive Voices survey is used to monitor levels of stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) within the health and social care system. The Positive Voices survey 2022 found that one in 13 people had avoided accessing healthcare services and…
View full answer ↗
The Department is investing £4.8 million from 2026 to 2029 in the newly procured National HIV Prevention England Programme, which will be delivered by a consortium of the Terrence Higgins Trust and the Africa Advocacy Foundation.One of the key aims of the programme is to improve awareness,…
View full answer ↗
The Department of Health and Social Care recognises the importance of increasing public understanding of epilepsy and ensuring that people who witness a seizure know how to respond safely. The National Health Service website provides clear, accessible first‑aid information on managing an…
View full answer ↗
The National Cancer Plan commits to increasing access to the best innovative cancer treatments for all patients, including those with secondary breast cancer. The Cancer Drugs Fund has helped to ensure that, according to industry data, patients in England receive new cancer treatments 50% faster…
View full answer ↗
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), along with partner agencies in the devolved administrations, have been supporting the Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, and local authorities with their investigations responding to the recall of infant formula products potentially contaminated…
View full answer ↗
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) home testing programme has engaged directly with the ASSIST research team to understand the risks of open access, first come first served models. The insights from the ASSIST study are informing thinking not only for HIV testing but for the wider home testing…
View full answer ↗
As set out in our Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever. As part of this, the Government committed to…
View full answer ↗
National clinical guidance, including guidance jointly issued by the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, explicitly instructs clinicians not to apply psychological explanations prematurely, and to conduct a full physical assessment before concluding that…
View full answer ↗
The Government is committed to reducing the number of people in ill health, with the shift from treatment to prevention being a key priority.Action to prevent harms from alcohol feature in multiple current strategies and plans. The recently published National Cancer Plan…
View full answer ↗
Alongside our Tobacco and Vapes Bill, we remain committed to supporting current smokers to quit.The Government has invested an additional £70 million in both 2024/25 and 2025/26 to support local authority-led Stop Smoking Services in England to help people quit. We are already seeing the…
View full answer ↗
Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby.The Department has policy responsibility for infant formula regulations in…
View full answer ↗
The Government is committed to ensuring that people with Type 1 Diabetes and Disordered Eating (T1DE) receive support and care which meets their needs. NHS England will continue to work closely with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to understand emerging areas for…
View full answer ↗
This Government is committed to improving cancer screening services in line with the National Cancer Plan and as part of the 10-Year Health Plan’s shift from treatment to prevention. The Department has not made an assessment of the potential impact of lowering bowel cancer screening age to 50…
View full answer ↗
Men who have had breast cancer themselves should be followed up by the clinical services who cared for them while they had breast cancer. General practitioners (GPs) can refer symptomatic men for tests and scans at a breast clinic including a chest examination, mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy. In…
View full answer ↗
The Department recognises the complex needs of people living with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Our approach focuses on improving care coordination and access to appropriate services.The National Health Service has published an overview of mastocytosis, a similar, distinct, mast cell…
View full answer ↗
Meningococcal disease is an uncommon but serious disease caused by meningococcal bacteria. The MenACWY vaccine offers good protection against several strains of meningococcal disease and is routinely offered to teenagers in school years 9 and 10. However, it does not protect against all strains.…
View full answer ↗
The Department undertakes a range of emergency preparedness and response exercises that test our capability to manage high‑consequence infectious disease outbreaks. These exercises routinely assess incident response structures, case management, contact tracing, vaccination strategies, and…
View full answer ↗
The Department undertakes a range of emergency preparedness and response exercises that test our capability to manage high‑consequence infectious disease outbreaks. These exercises routinely assess incident response structures, case management, contact tracing, vaccination strategies, and…
View full answer ↗
The Government introduced legislation in England on 14 November 2024 to mandate the fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid based on strong scientific assessment and modelling. The policy is estimated to prevent approximately 200 babies being born with neural tube defects each…
View full answer ↗
The Government recognises the importance of access to therapy for children with neuromuscular disorders like hemiplegia, and that early intervention is shown to be the most effective.NHS England’s service specification for paediatric neurodisability services outlines that paediatric…
View full answer ↗
As set out in the Plan for Change, we are committed to returning by March 2029 to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment. As a first step to achieving this, we exceeded our pledge to deliver an…
View full answer ↗
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) is currently conducting a rapid review of whether current vitamin D recommendations for vitamin D intake and status are adequate for people with higher melanin concentrations. The vitamin D working group is reviewing relevant evidence and…
View full answer ↗
The Government is committed to supporting people with diabetes. Improving the uptake of annual diabetes health checks recommended by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is a key primary care metric in the NHS Oversight Framework, which is available at the following…
View full answer ↗
Meningococcal disease, both meningitis and septicaemia, is an uncommon but serious disease caused by meningococcal bacteria. The MenACWY vaccine offers good protection against several strains of meningococcal disease and is routinely offered to teenagers in school Years 9 and 10. However, it does…
View full answer ↗
The links between material deprivation and poorer mental and physical health are well recognised. As highlighted by the campaign ‘End Furniture Poverty’, furniture can be one of the most expensive items people can purchase, and living without essential items can have an impact on…
View full answer ↗
In the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government has committed to consult on raising the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) from 0.05% ABV, which would bring the labelling guidance for no and low alcohol drink alternatives for England into alignment…
View full answer ↗
The Government is committed to improving the diagnosis and treatment of achalasia. Work is underway to support an increase in the use of the Advice and Refer/Single Point of Access model, which can in turn improve waiting times for all gastro patients, including those with achalasia or suspected…
View full answer ↗
NHS England currently funds a national service for children aged 13 years old and over who are experiencing gambling-related harms. This service is provided by the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, and is available to children across England. The core treatment offer of this…
View full answer ↗
In the recently published National Cancer Plan, we set out our commitment to meet all three cancer waiting time standards to ensure that all cancer patients, including those in the East Midlands, have timely access to high quality diagnostic and treatment services.Our commitment to meeting the…
View full answer ↗
The National Cancer Plan, published on 4 February 2026, sets out several commitments and ambitions, to be delivered within the next 10 years. We will implement the Rare Cancers Act, which received Royal Assent on 5 March 2026, including by designating a National Institute for Health and Care…
View full answer ↗
As I set out in the debate on Type 1 Diabetes: Infant Testing in response to petition 728677 on Monday 9 March 2026, the Government is committed to supporting people with type 1 diabetes. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recently updated the clinical guidelines on type 1…
View full answer ↗
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises ministers and the National Health Service in the four countries of the United Kingdom about all aspects of screening. The implementation of any UK NSC screening recommendation is a devolved matter.Officials from the devolved governments are…
View full answer ↗
The National Inherited Cancer Predisposition Registry (NICPR), which is part of the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), records information on individuals who have confirmed pathogenic or likely-pathogenic variants in any of the approximately 120 cancer predisposition genes tested for in…
View full answer ↗
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) ceased to update non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) hospital admissions rates and premature deaths, in people aged under 75 years old, on the Fingertips profiles in December 2025. These only measure the most serious, and a small…
View full answer ↗
The National Cancer Plan, published on the 4 February 2026, sets out several commitments and ambitions, to be delivered within the next ten years. The role of the reformed National Cancer Board will be to support and monitor the delivery of the commitments and ambitions and to provide regular…
View full answer ↗
NHS England has run national campaigns, most recently in early 2025, to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms, address barriers to acting on them, and to encourage people to see their general practitioner as soon as possible if they notice a change in their health. The campaigns cover bowel cancer…
View full answer ↗
Fracture liaison services are commissioned by integrated care boards, which are well-placed to make decisions according to local need.Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out fracture liaison services across every part of the country by 2030.Officials continue to work closely with NHS…
View full answer ↗
In the United Kingdom, the Advertising Standards Authority is responsible for regulating advertising through enforcing the codes set by the Committees of Advertising Practice and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice. There are rules about ensuring alcohol and drinking are portrayed in a…
View full answer ↗
The Department is working with NHS England to extend the NHS Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) to include instalment dispensing for the FP10MDA, or controlled drugs, prescription type. This will allow eligible services, including drug and alcohol treatment providers and community pharmacies, to…
View full answer ↗
NHS England commissions the specialised elements of motor neurone disease (MND) care that patients may receive from 27 specialised neurology centres across England. Within these specialised centres, neurological multidisciplinary teams ensure patients can access a range of health professionals and…
View full answer ↗
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to the Hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell on 24 November 2025 to Question 91780.
View full answer ↗
We expect to publish the new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework (CVD MSF) later this year.The Department and NHS England are engaging widely with stakeholders to co-produce the CVD MSF, ensuring that experts, people, and communities are at the heart of its development.
View full answer ↗
Meningococcal disease is an uncommon but serious disease caused by meningococcal bacteria. The MenACWY vaccine offers good protection against several strains of meningococcal disease and is routinely offered to teenagers in school years 9 and 10. However, it does not protect against all strains.…
View full answer ↗
The Government recognises that alcohol-related harm has wide ranging impacts across health, crime, productivity, and communities.Commitments to addressing harms from alcohol feature in several of the Government's current strategies and plans. The National Health Service…
View full answer ↗
The Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) is a tool that determines whether foods or drinks are ‘healthier’ and not high in saturated fat, free sugars, or salt, or foods and drinks that are ‘less healthy’ and high in saturated fat, free sugars, or salt. The new NPM, published on 27…
View full answer ↗
The Department and NHS England recognise the psychological impact of chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs). NHS England published the Excellence in Continence Care framework on 23 July 2018, which is available at the following…
View full answer ↗
As part of our shift from analogue to digital, the Department has provided guidance for alcohol and drug treatment services on maintaining a balance between digital, or remote, and in-person interventions. This guidance is available to view at the following…
View full answer ↗
Clean air is a key part of our shift from ‘sickness to prevention’ in the 10-Year Health Plan for England, which sets out action to further improve the quality of the air we breathe, including in Yeovil.Alongside the 10-Year Health Plan, the Environmental Improvement Plan published in…
View full answer ↗
Smoking prevalence continues to fall across the United Kingdom. In 2024, approximately 5.3 million people aged 18 years old and over were current smokers, 10.6% of the adult population. This is the lowest proportion of current smokers since records began, but we are determined to continue this…
View full answer ↗
We would like to reiterate our deepest sympathies to all those individuals who have experienced harm following vaccination, and to their families.The Government recognises that concerns have been raised in relation to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme. Ministers remain committed to looking at the…
View full answer ↗
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
View full answer ↗
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
View full answer ↗
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
View full answer ↗
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
View full answer ↗
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
View full answer ↗
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
View full answer ↗
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
View full answer ↗
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
View full answer ↗
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
View full answer ↗
Improving the uptake of annual diabetes health checks recommended by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is a key primary care metric in the NHS Oversight Framework, which is available at the following…
View full answer ↗
Gluten‑free staple foods are available on prescription in line with the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Category 1 Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2004, which support access to essential items such as gluten‑free bread and mixes for…
View full answer ↗
Officials from the Department of Health and Social Care regularly attend meetings to discuss matters of national security, defence, and resilience as well as the associated public communications required to deliver these lines of efforts. The conversation on national defence was a recommendation in…
View full answer ↗
Decisions on the development of clinical pathways, the commissioning of services, and the configuration of specialist diagnostics remain the responsibility of local integrated care boards, which are best placed to assess local population needs and ensure access to appropriate expertise and…
View full answer ↗
Decisions on the assessment, diagnosis, and management of suspected craniocervical instability (CCI) are made by National Health Service clinicians on a case‑by‑case basis, drawing on established neurological, neurosurgical, rheumatology, and pain pathways. The Department has not issued…
View full answer ↗
The National Health Service provides a range of weight management services, and we recognise that waiting times for some programmes can be long. NHS England is taking steps to improve access. Access to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is being doubled over the next three years, enabling…
View full answer ↗
The Resilience Action Plan sets out the Government’s strategic approach to how we will strengthen our domestic resilience and invest to protect the nation. Department officials regularly attend meetings to discuss the implementation of the Resilience Action Plan as well as matters of national…
View full answer ↗
The National Congenital Condition and Rare Disease Registration Service (NCARDRS), part of the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), was established in 2015 and collects data on individuals with congenital and rare conditions in England. There are over 7,000 known rare diseases, many of…
View full answer ↗
Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death, disability, and ill health. It claims the lives of approximately 80,000 people a year in the United Kingdom and kills up to two-thirds of its long-term users.Three quarters of smokers wish they had never started smoking but are unable to due to…
View full answer ↗
The Government is guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC makes its recommendations based on internationally recognised criteria and a rigorous evidence review and consultation process. Where the committee is confident that offering…
View full answer ↗
People with spinal cord injuries in North Shropshire receive specialist care through the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI) at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, one of 11 nationally designated spinal injury centres providing lifelong multidisciplinary support in the…
View full answer ↗
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has for many years published comprehensive information on how its meat charges are made up annually. This information can be found in Cost Data Slides available on its website, at the following…
View full answer ↗
The Government is committed to supporting children and young people with arthritis to ensure they get timely, quality care.Services for children with suspected arthritis are commissioned in line with the national service specification for paediatric rheumatology services.The national service…
View full answer ↗
The National Cancer Plan, published on the 4 February, sets out several commitments and ambitions, to be delivered within the next 10 years. The plan sets out in tables at the end of each chapter what actions we will take and when we will implement them. There is no plan to publish an additional…
View full answer ↗
Breast screening services that deliver the NHS Breast Screening Programme are mainly within National Health Service trusts, with staff on Agenda for Change terms or conditions or medical staff on the consultant, both medical and dental, pay scale. The exception to this is the very small number of…
View full answer ↗
The Government is driving action to reduce health inequalities through the 10-Year Health Plan, which stated our commitment to halve the gap in the healthy expectancy between the richest and poorest regions.The 10-Year Health Plan recognises that people’s health and wellbeing are influenced…
View full answer ↗
Our call for evidence, which closed in December 2025, invited feedback on whether licence applications for existing businesses should be treated differently to those for new businesses established after the implementation of the scheme, and whether factors such as the location and density of…
View full answer ↗
The official controls legislation, Regulation (EU) 2017/625, sets clear requirements to undertake ante-mortem and post-mortem official inspections and the verification of compliance with food law, animal health, and welfare rules in slaughterhouses and game handling establishments. To perform these…
View full answer ↗
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) supports evidence‑based use of technology in Official Controls, but inspection requirements in abattoirs are set in assimilated European Union law Regulation, and are prescriptive, and divergence could restrict British access to the EU and other markets. The…
View full answer ↗
On World AIDS Day, 1 December 2025, the Department published the new HIV Action Plan, which was developed in collaboration with UK Health Security Agency and NHS England. The plan is backed by over £170 million in funding and sets out five core priorities needed to reach our ambition to end…
View full answer ↗
NHS England takes a digital first approach to issuing invitations and results in the National Health Service cervical screening programme, using the NHS App and SMS.NHS England is committed to making it as easy as possible for those wishing to participate in cervical screening to book an…
View full answer ↗
The Government is guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC makes its recommendations based on internationally recognised criteria and a rigorous evidence review and consultation process. Where the committee is confident that offering…
View full answer ↗
The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting…
View full answer ↗
The Government recognises the importance of access to treatment and support services for people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.To improve access to treatment for those with MSK conditions, we are working to deliver the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) MSK Community Delivery…
View full answer ↗
The National Cancer Plan, published on 4 February, sets out several commitments and ambitions, to be delivered within the next 10 years, including end of treatment summaries.Every cancer patient will receive a summary that will inform the ongoing care they receive from neighbourhood health…
View full answer ↗
The Department recognises the importance of a timely diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and the impact that early identification has on people’s long‑term outcomes. We remain committed to delivering the National Health Service constitutional standard for 92% of patients waiting no…
View full answer ↗
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) was established by the Food Standards Act 1999 as a non-ministerial Government department. The FSA is accountable to the Westminster Parliament, the Senedd, and the Northern Ireland Assembly through health ministers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland…
View full answer ↗
The Department continues to work with the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England to promote vaccine uptake by providing diverse delivery methods to make getting vaccinated easier, increasing outreach efforts to under-served groups, and raising awareness of the dangers of vaccine preventable…
View full answer ↗
The recently published National Cancer Plan reiterated the commitment made in Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, to strengthen and expand on existing voluntary guidelines for alcohol labelling by introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display…
View full answer ↗
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill Impact Assessment, published in November 2024, which was given a ‘green’ rating by the Regulatory Policy Committee, assesses the expected impact of policies on the face of the bill, including any impacts on the hospitality industry. The impact on the…
View full answer ↗
The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) in NHS England, as the national cancer registry, collects diagnosis, treatment, and outcome data on cancer patients in England. The NDRS does not routinely publish statistics on life expectancy.However, NHS England publishes survival data for all…
View full answer ↗
The National Health Service and local government provide a range of weight management services. Commissioning and funding decisions for obesity services are made locally. NHS integrated care boards, local authorities, and NHS England are expected to take National Institute for Health and Care…
View full answer ↗
In February 2025, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities published data on fast food outlets per 100,000 population. In this analysis, fast food was described as “food that is energy dense and available quickly, usually via a counter service, and for consumption on or off the…
View full answer ↗
The Department continues to monitor the latest data on smoking and vaping prevalence, including the figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The 2024 ONS Adult Smoking Habits in the UK data shows that 10% of adults in Great Britain, approximately 5.4 million people, are…
View full answer ↗
The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients, including those with lobular breast cancer, survive this horrible set of diseases. There are multiple NHS initiatives and funding streams across the NHS in…
View full answer ↗
The Government recognises the challenges faced by those living with rare diseases and their families and is committed to improving outcomes. This is why the National Health Service is planning a large-scale in-service evaluation (ISE) of screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in newborn…
View full answer ↗
The Government is supporting local authorities to take enforcement action against the underage sales of tobacco, vapes, and alcohol.On tobacco and vapes, the Government is providing up to £10 million annually until 2028/29 for Trading Standards, to support the enforcement of illicit and…
View full answer ↗
The existing legal position set out in Section 150(4) of the Licensing Act 2003 seeks to achieve a balance that allows parents to introduce their children to alcohol in a controlled, measured, and responsible way, if they wish to do so, whilst upholding the licensing objective to protect children…
View full answer ↗
The National Cancer Plan sets out a comprehensive programme of reform across prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, data, and research. The Government will transform early diagnosis through improved screening and proactive case‑finding, embed continuous quality improvement across cancer…
View full answer ↗
The Government has a commitment to ban the sale of energy drinks to children under 16 years old, which is subject to a consultation. We subsequently ran a 12-week consultation, which was open from 3 September 2025 to 26 November 2025.We are carefully considering the responses to the consultation.…
View full answer ↗
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
View full answer ↗
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
View full answer ↗
For screening programmes, the Government is guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). It is only where the offer to screen provides more good than harm that a screening programme is recommended. The UK NSC makes its recommendations based on…
View full answer ↗
Naloxone forms a key part of the Government’s plan to reduce drug‑related deaths, and we are committed to raising awareness of, and expanding access to, naloxone across the country.In 2024, the Government amended the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. This legislation enables more…
View full answer ↗
My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience, and associated public communications.As set out in the Strategic…
View full answer ↗
The Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Action Plan is being developed as a cross‑Government initiative, recognising that preventing, diagnosing, and supporting people with ABI involves multiple departments, health bodies, and external partners. The Department of Health and Social Care is working…
View full answer ↗
The Department does not hold data on the health outcomes of people with an ethnicity of ‘Latino’.Population health surveys and National Health Service data collections used for routine reporting of health outcomes by ethnic group, generally collect ethnicity using the same categories as…
View full answer ↗
The myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), final delivery plan, published on 22 July 2025, includes an action for the Department and NHS England to explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health…
View full answer ↗
As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis to ease the strain on our National Health Service and create the healthiest generation of children ever.Restrictions on the promotion by location of ‘less healthy’ food and drink products in stores…
View full answer ↗
On 28 November, the UK National Screening Committee opened a 12-week public consultation on a draft recommendation on screening for prostate cancer. We anticipate a final recommendation in early 2026. After which, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will make a…
View full answer ↗
It is a priority for the Government to halve the gap between the richest and the poorest regions and to ensure that everyone, no matter where they are born, lives well for longer. We recognise that recently released Office for National Statistics Data on Healthy Life Expectancy (HLE) data is…
View full answer ↗
According to the Office for National Statistics, the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased mortality during 2020, 2021, and 2022, and explains the national decline observed in healthy life expectancy (HLE) since 2020. Some negative impact remains in the latest reporting period, from 2022 to 2024.…
View full answer ↗
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will stop vapes and nicotine products from being deliberately branded, promoted, and advertised to children and will provide the Government with new powers to restrict the packaging, device appearance, and display of vapes and other nicotine products to stop the next…
View full answer ↗
Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug and alcohol treatment services according to local need as part of their public health responsibilities, and this includes the provision of inpatient detoxification services.In line with recommendations in Dame Carol Black’s independent…
View full answer ↗
The Department recognises that the cost of travel should not be a barrier to cancer treatment. NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of local communities are met, including providing support for travel. The National Health…
View full answer ↗
NHS England’s updated Specialised Neurology Service Specification, published in August 2025, includes specific reference to functional neurological disorder (FND). It states that all specialised neurology centres must include access to treatment services for FND. The service specification is…
View full answer ↗
NHS England is currently planning a large-scale in-service evaluation (ISE) of screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which is a genetic condition, in newborn screening services to start in January 2027. Over 400,000 babies would be offered screening as part of this ISE. The ISE will help…
View full answer ↗
The Government is committed to ensuring that anyone with an alcohol problem can access the help and support they need, including in South Basildon and East Thurrock, and we recognise the need for evidence-based, high-quality treatment.Local authorities are responsible for commissioning alcohol and…
View full answer ↗
The Department and the National Health Service in England acknowledge that some cancer patients may face difficulties with hair loss during treatment.Decisions about the funding and provision of health services are the responsibility of local integrated care boards. NHS Supply Chain has engaged…
View full answer ↗
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the fresh-freezing of tissue examples have already been developed across pathology networks in England. It is, however, the responsibility of individual pathology services to maintain their own SOPs for the fresh-freezing of tissue samples. These protocols…
View full answer ↗
As I reaffirmed in the Westminster Hall debate on type 1 diabetes on 9 March 2026, the Government is committed to improving awareness of type 1 diabetes. NHS England carried out communications activity to coincide with World Diabetes Day in November 2025, with a focus on the “4Ts”…
View full answer ↗
The Government recognises that there are currently limited treatment options available for people who have been diagnosed with cancerous brain tumours, such as glioblastoma, and recognises the significant impact that this rare cancer can have on patients, carers, and their families. In October…
View full answer ↗
The Government is committed to improving the lives of people living with rare diseases through the UK Rare Diseases Framework. One of the priorities of the framework is improving awareness of all rare diseases, including Achalasia, among healthcare professionals. In England, we published the fifth…
View full answer ↗
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) assess the level of food insecurity in the population. The FSA refers to the 1996 World Food Summit definition that “Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access…
View full answer ↗
While the Personal Child Health Record (PCHR) does not currently contain a dedicated section on diabetes, it includes signposting to National Health Service online information on serious childhood illness, including symptoms of diabetes.NHS England is working with clinical experts, royal colleges,…
View full answer ↗
Illnesses often have multiple possible sources, so individual cases cannot usually be attributed to a specific cause unless they are part of an epidemiologically confirmed outbreak. When outbreaks are identified, investigations assess potential sources such as lake or seawater exposure.Since 2020,…
View full answer ↗
Locally, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) is implementing the NHS Long Term Plan’s commitments on earlier diagnosis of liver diseases. This includes expanding access to non-invasive testing in primary care and community diagnostic centres delivering liver function…
View full answer ↗
Rehabilitation is an important consideration within the recovery phase of our emergency response plans and wider preparedness, in line with World Health Organization Resolution 76.6 on Strengthening Rehabilitation in Health Systems. The United Kingdom participated in the negotiation of the…
View full answer ↗
It is a priority for the Government to increase the amount of time people spend in good health and prevent premature deaths.A core mission of the 10-Year Health Plan is to reduce the persistent inequalities that shape people’s health, including within communities. The plan’s three…
View full answer ↗
The development of the National Cancer Plan highlighted areas where there are higher vacancy rates in some areas of the country. The Department and NHS England will work with the royal colleges to encourage resident doctors and internal medicine trainees to specialise in clinical and medical…
View full answer ↗
The 10-Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future announced ambitious measures to make the healthy choice the easy choice, including for people in Surrey Heath. This includes tackling the obesity epidemic through mandatory healthy food sales reporting, business targets to increase the…
View full answer ↗
This Government recognises the evidence that men of Black ethnicity are at a higher risk of some diseases. Tackling these inequalities is a top priority for the Government.For example, black men are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease yet evidence shows that men in Black and Mixed ethnic…
View full answer ↗
The decision will be announced in due course. At this stage, officials from the Department and NHS England have been working carefully through the steps needed to make a decision on the prescription of a specialised service for very severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome…
View full answer ↗
The decision will be announced in due course. At this stage, officials from the Department and NHS England have been working carefully through the steps needed to make a decision on the prescription of a specialised service for very severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome…
View full answer ↗
The Early Surveillance for Autoimmune diabetes (ELSA) study is currently screening children across the United Kingdom to identify those at risk of developing type 1 diabetes. More information is available at the following link: https://www.elsadiabetes.nhs.uk/ The National Institute for Health and…
View full answer ↗
Our 10-Year Health Plan for England set out the decisive action we are taking on the obesity crisis, to ease the strain on our National Health Service and create the healthiest generation of children ever. As part of this, we have already implemented United Kingdom-wide restrictions on the…
View full answer ↗
The Department of Health and Social Care works with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the links between housing conditions and health, including the risks associated with damp, mould, and other hazards. The jointly published guidance Understanding and addressing the…
View full answer ↗
The Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education are working jointly to produce and publish new advice for parents and carers on the impacts of screen use on the health and development of children aged zero to five years old, including speech and language development. An…
View full answer ↗
The NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) is a platform set up to accelerate the development of cancer vaccines and speed up access to mRNA personalised cancer vaccine clinical trials for cancer patients. The CVLP has been instrumental in accelerating trial activity in cancer research, with CVLP…
View full answer ↗
The Department is currently developing a template service specification for mild and moderate myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), which also references severe ME/CFS. Further work will need to be undertaken to strengthen support for people with severe ME/CFS,…
View full answer ↗
Each action in the final delivery plan on myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), has a designated lead department or organisation, with the Department of Health and Social Care being ultimately responsible for overseeing the delivery of the plan as a whole,…
View full answer ↗
On 28 November 2025, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) opened a 12-week public consultation on a draft recommendation to offer targeted screening for prostate cancer in men with variants of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, every two years from the age of 45 to 61 years old. This consultation has…
View full answer ↗
NHS England is delivering a comprehensive programme to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of people with kidney disease, through its renal services transformation programme. This includes a specification for renal services which sets out the scope for the work of the renal clinical…
View full answer ↗
Gloucestershire has a county wide programme in place to improve diabetes care and increase uptake of these checks. Current actions include:a primary care Locally Enhanced Service for diabetes and diabetes champions, to support earlier intervention, more consistent reviews, and better diabetes…
View full answer ↗
Subject to final checks, this year the statutory levy has raised just under £120 million, which will be ringfenced solely for the use of tackling gambling-related harm. In England, prevention and treatment funding will include: £15.9 million for integrated care boards in 2026/27 to…
View full answer ↗
Alongside our Tobacco and Vapes Bill, we remain committed to supporting current smokers to quit.The Government has invested an additional £70 million in both 2024/25 and 2025/26 to support local authority-led Stop Smoking Services in England to help people quit. We are already seeing the…
View full answer ↗
NHS England will be developing a national commissioning specification during the first half of 2026/27 to ensure consistent, high-quality care across all gambling treatment and support services nationwide. Given the evolving evidence landscape and NHS England’s plans to allocate funding to…
View full answer ↗
In the short and medium term, vaping is less harmful than smoking and can be an effective quit aid for adult smokers, especially when combined with behavioural support. However, children, and adult non-smokers, should never vape, and the long-term health impacts are unknown.For those who feel ready…
View full answer ↗
In Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, the Government has committed to explore measures to regulate access to no- and low-alcohol (NoLo) products in line with other alcoholic beverages. This policy is being pursued as alcohol substitute drinks are only intended for consumption by…
View full answer ↗